Contents

Background

Nelson, a former mining town, was occupied by NCR in an effort to secure a vulnerable stretch of land along the Colorado River, considered by General Lee Oliver to be a significant security gap between Forlorn Hope and Searchlight.[2] Due to the short notice of occupying Nelson, the intermediary base had barely enough time to set up proper defenses. Caesar and Vulpes Inculta[1], likely acting upon information provided by their mole at Camp McCarran, ordered the invasion of the town as a demoralizing effort for the area.[3][4]

Events

Two contubernia under the command of Decanus Dead Sea attacked Nelson, surprising the under-equipped soldiers stationed there.[4] Although outnumbered two to one, the legionaries swiftly overran the defenses, killed most of the NCR troopers and executing the rest by hurling them into the Colorado River in full view of spotters from Camp Forlorn Hope. Three soldiers that weren't executed were promptly crucified to send a message to any NCR scouts stationed at the local camps and keep any attacking NCR troopers timid.[5][6]

Aftermath

By the time the Courier arrives in the Mojave Wasteland, the Legion has a firm hold on the town. Each side periodically sends out a party of skirmishers to try and weaken the other, but neither has any success in capturing territory and the battle lines are static. Between Camp Forlorn Hope and Nelson is a small no man's land littered with dying NCR troopers. Laid near their bodies are frag mines - most likely traps Legionnaires have placed should the Courier or other NCR troopers wander too close to help them. Because of the battle, morale at Camp Forlorn Hope has reached an all-time low. However, morale with the legionaries at Nelson is high. At Caesar's command, Dead Sea's legionaries are on the defensive, the psychological effect of their presence being seen as too valuable to be risked in a concerted attack on Forlorn Hope.[4] Ranger Milo, acting on his own, has taken it upon himself to remove one of the Legion's morale advantages by killing and end the suffering of the three crucified troopers being held hostage.[7] He believes that with the crucified troopers taken out of the equation, this would allow any attacking troops to enter without fear for the safety of their fellow troopers.[5]

The Courier may choose to help improve the situation of the NCR at Forlorn Hope, ultimately allowing Major Joseph Polatli to order Sergeant Cooper to mount an offensive and retake the town in the quest Restoring Hope. The size of the force depends on the Courier's actions. Alternatively, the Courier may choose to help Caesar's Legion in the quest We Are Legion, assassinating the officers at Forlorn Hope to strike a far more serious blow to the NCR's morale and organization than Dead Sea's men could manage on their own. When the Second Battle of Hoover Dam starts, if the Courier helped the NCR, then the camp will repel another Legion attack. If the Courier did nothing or completed the quest "We Are Legion", then the camp will be lost.

Appearances

Gallery

Crucified NCR prisoners

References

↑ 1.01.1The Courier: "Towns? The Legion destroyed Nipton, poisoned Searchlight, butchered Nelson."Lanius: "[SUCCEEDED] Vulpes... brought the touch of Caesar to such places.It was necessary to weaken the West, show that the Legion could strike deep into the places where NCR thought it safe. But we do not need *those* towns. Like Hoover Dam, there is the power within Vegas... we can harness it for our needs."(Lanius' dialogue)

↑The Courier: "Tell me about Nelson."Hanlon: "Nelson was barely set up. We had a big stretch of unprotected land between Forlorn Hope and Searchlight, and Nelson was the solution. A decanus named Dead Sea took the place and caused a lot of damage."(Hanlon's dialogue)

↑The Courier: "What happened here?"Milo: "Troopers tried moving down from Forlorn Hope because we got this big gap between there and Searchlight. Turns out we were spread too thin. We took our sweet ass time setting up in Nelson and the Legion managed to hop over the Colorado and attack before things were settled."(Milo's dialogue (Fallout: New Vegas))

↑ 4.04.14.2The Courier: "Why haven't you attacked the enemy?"Dead Sea: "I have attacked the enemy. I led the assault on Nelson with two contubernia against twice our number.It is Caesar's wish that we hold this position. Our mere presence this side of the Colorado humiliates and demoralizes the enemy."(Dead Sea's dialogue)

↑ 5.05.1The Courier: "Why take out the hostages?"Milo: "The troopers won't go down into the camp with their comrades at risk. Dirty game the Legion likes to roll out whenever they get a chance. Problem is, Ranger Milo doesn't want to play. If we take out the hostages, they've got squat for leverage."(Milo's dialogue (Fallout: New Vegas))

↑The Courier: "You're demoralizing the enemy by leaving them alone?"Dead Sea: "I do not question Caesar's will! I do not second-guess!I butchered this town. Those who weren't hacked limb from limb were forced to throw themselves from the cliffs. Three more, I have just crucified.All this, in full view of the enemy's spotters to the north. Yes, our presence here demoralizes the enemy."(Dead Sea's dialogue)

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